Agreed, Sassuolo is in no condition the most exciting club of Emilia-Romagna, and the competition is big. But it is a club with a remarkable story, and its central location makes it good to combine with other clubs in the region.
Sassuolo used to play a marginal role in Italian football until the eighties, when they more or less were adopted by the company Mapei, producer of building materials. With the money of Mapei, the way up was started leading to the promotion to Serie A in 2013. Since then, the club was a trampoline for young talent, they achieved Europa League football and delivered it three players to European champions Italy.
The march of Sassuolo meant that the club outgrew the small stadium in their hometown. A solution was found in Reggio-Emilia, thirty kilometers away from Sassuolo. The Stadio Grigio there was covered in dust, since home team Reggiana was descended to the basements of Italian football. It was bought by Mapei, and since then it's the home of Sassuolo. Not our favorite stadium, but highlights (literally) are the four, squared floodlights.
In Sassuolo is Stadio Enzo Ricci still existing, where the football club played the bigger part of its history. The stadium at the Via Fossetta was not suitable for football on a higher level, and when Sassuolo promoted to the Serie B in 2008 they decided to move to another stadium. It's still there, and until recently the first team used it as their training ground as well.
Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi is small but lovely, with its salmon pink houses, arches and bell tower. It's the place where Sassuolo used to celebrate its promotions, most recently in 2013 when the promotion to the Serie A was achieved.
Although Sassuolo doesn't play its home games within city limits anymore, during the week Sassuolo is still the home base of the club. The first team and the direction have their home at the brand new Mapei Football Center, the training ground at the Via Giorgio Squinzi 1.
When Sassuolo promoted to the Serie B in 2008, they found a temporary solution in Modena, twenty kilometers north of Sassuolo. Stadio Alberto Braglia of the local football pride became the home of Sassuolo for a couple of years, until the Mapei Stadium was renovated. The stadium is named after an Italian gymnast. It's popular among musicians as well: Sting, Prince, U2 and many others held concerts here.
When you're in Reggio-Emilia anyway you can't ignore the original club of the city: Reggiana, in 1997 still active in the Serie A. The Stadio Mirabello at the same named Via Mirabello is a nice example of a concrete stadium. The main stand is built over the street. In 1995, Reggiana played here for the last time.
Sassuolo is almost never sold-out, so getting tickets isn't usually a problem. You can order them easily at the official website of the club.
MAPEI Stadium is quite distant of the city centre of Reggio-Emilia, but it's good accessible by car, the A1 Milan - Naples passes the stadium (exit Reggio-Emilia). Follow the signs with the little football and within minutes you'll stand in front of Sassuolo's home.
The stadion has its own train station as well. Here stop regional trains to the centre of Reggio Emilia as well, where long distance trains stop as well.
Images: Shutterstock, BSR Agency
